Ooh this was a fun one! Back in February when I heard of my impending uncle-dom, I began working on a garter stitch square with the intention of turning it into a baby blanket/shawl for the little one. I never tire of a good garter stitch square trimmed with a lacy edge - I think they're simple, elegant and wonderful to knit. They never do you wrong. Ever.

At the same time the garter stitch knitting was happening (academic de-tox) I was amassing a stack of Shetland Knitting History Books (pleasure reading) on the bedside table. Being exposed to pages and pages of the most unbelievable Shetland lace, the beautiful Hap Shawls put a spell on me (I think I'll make an 'official' one this year) and, when it came time for choosing a suitable edge to incorporate my second-color, Feather-and-Fan struck back with a vengeance!

The nice folks over at KnitPicks sent me some of their new City Tweed yarn to play with. It's super soft and allowed me to create a shawl that's baby-skin-friendly while masquerading as something a bit more rustic (rustique?). I knit the (DK-weight) yarn up on an 8 and blocked the piece as for lace with blocking wires and a nice drumskin tension. I love how it came out - the softness and squishiness remains but with a drapey, shawl-like quality.

The garter stitch is worked on the bias, starting with one stitch and increasing one stitch on each row to create the square - at the halfway point, just replace a decrease for your increase and you end up shaping it back down to one stitch. Then it was just a matter of picking up stitches and Feather and Fanning myself into oblivion. I finished off with an applied I-Cord to keep simple, felxible edge and of course adhere to the 'no-hard-bind-offs' rule of lace blocking.

It's a bit early for October, but I guess it just means we'll have more woolens to chat about between now and then. Is there anything better than knitting for a Fall arrival?

Stunning! I don't know how you always manage to make lace knitting and baby knitting seem masculine and so sweet/adorable all at the same time. I'm currently getting ready to cast on for a Girasol for a close friends wedding gift. Thanks for all the inspiration.

This is lovely. I used to knit a lot but don't get so much time to do so now (3 young children to look after). I actually have a baby shawl half finished of a similar style that I started whilst having my middle child who's now 3 1/2. The shame!

I have a question if you don't mind. I've not done much lace and certainly never an edging on something square, did you have to do anything to make the corners square like you did, it looks as though you lined it up some specific way to keep your "corners" amongst the F&F.

I already admired this on Flickr but have to say again...what a beautiful result with your shawl! I was born in Shetland and swaddled in a Hap shawl myself. I think it is such a special gift for a newborn.I assume you were reading Sharon Miller's book? Some amazing photos in there!

It is the loveliest baby blanket I have ever seen! Elegant and it looks so soft at the same time! Everything you make is magnificient! I hope you will write the pattern... It would be yet another success ;-)

That is just so sweet and so neat! I expect to see many of those blankies on Ravelry, lol!

I have just about plucked up enough courage to attempt the HEMLOCK RING BLANKET for my DH for our anniversary and I have found that the links in your post on the blanket and also the ravelry links to the your chart is giving an error message. I am not experienced enough to do it without a chart. please help!

I love garter stitch for its meditative and relaxing knitting and for its pure and simple elegance. That you've teamed it with feather and fan and subtle shades of the same neutral is just mind bogglingly beautiful. You have a way with yarn!

That is a wonderful baby blanket! And the new CIty Tweed is great, isn't it? Luxurious and rustic at the same time - and is some really appealing colors. I test knit the Nona's Garden shawl out of it for them and loved working with it. Thanks for sharing the blanket with us!

Don't you just love the knitting "zone" you can get into when making a shawl or afghan? so relaxing and satisfying, especially at the end you go from the mindlessness of the garter to the lovely lacy trim - lovely...

Correct me if I'm wrong, but did you knit the square more as a diamond? Starting with a few stitches, increasing until you reached the middle, then decreasing to the other side? The garter looks to be at an angle rather than "straight on".

That is stunning. Any baby would be proud to be wrapped in that. I have a couple of questions for you--How many balls of Tweed did you use for each color? How many stitches did you have on your longest row?

Doh! The 'no-hard-bind-offs' rule of lace blocking, indeed. This is a rule I will follow forevermore. I made a shawl based in part on Evelyn Clark's Shetland Triangle pattern that breaks this rule and even though it seemingly behaved during blocking (after I ripped out the first binding and did it again with several-sizes-larger needles), it curls up at the edge when I wear it and makes me crazy. Guess I'd better start studying the shetland lace books, as you've been doing!

So beautiful...love the pattern but I am more impressed by your color choices. I would never thought those colors for baby blankets. I am new here and I am not familiar with your blog so I would like to ask. Are you publishing the pattern?

The blanket is just right, and I love it. Did you just pick-up and knit the feather and fan pattern around the edge? Oh, come on, you have to tell us! I'm glad to know you liked the City Tweed. I was wondering about it.

Yet another fan (pardon the pun) wanting details on how this one was done. How many balls of yarn did you use? And please, the pattern on the edging, you must share. Beautiful. Love, love, love your blog.

I love feather and fan. In fact, I did the opposite of your blanket--a feather and fan blanket with garter edging. I love the feather and fan just as an edge. It's very sweet. I love how this blanket is both modern and vintage looking. Very nice!

What a wonderful masculine interpretation of Shetland Lace - I think your 'designer's eye' has it just right, the colour and yarn combination works extremely well. The solid I-cord edging is a great idea that should add bulk and body.

Hi,I know this question has been asked, numerous times, but I can't seem to find the answer--are you planning on writing up a pattern for this most simply elegant baby blanket. I tried, but was unsuccessful in following the casual directions you offered us. I'm the kind of knitter that requires a pattern to keep things going correctly--a bit on the dyslexic side I guess. Thanks for your consideration.

Oh how pretty - love the drape and the fact that you always manage to transform the most basic stitches into something magical! I loved your Porom hat, bought the pattern, loved Koolhaas, bought that too! Now I'm inspired to knit a baby blanket like this one!! :)